Snap-switch.



PATENTED PEB. 17, 1903.

w. o. A'.IEREGONIM.

SNAP SWITCH.

PPLIGTIN FILED JULY 5, `1002.

l0 IODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT EErCE.

VILLIAM C. TREGONING, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

SNAP-SWITCH.

sPnoIHoA'rIoN forming' part of "Letters Patent No. 720,858, dated Februmy 1'?, 190e.

Application filed July 5, 1902. Serial No. 114,344. (No model.)

To aa'Z whom it may concern:

Beit known that IQVILLIAM @.Tnneonrne, a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the'county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful f Improvements in fSnap- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a-push-button-oseillating snap-switch.

The object is to -providea'simple, durable, and eicien't single -Vbutton switch of this nature.

The invention is represented in the accompanying drawings as designed for a pendent push-button switch; but it is equally applicable to other designs of these switches.

Figure l is a side elevation, on enlarged scale, of a pendent push-button switch embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a View with the shell removed and the receptacle cutin section, showing the ymechanism in side elevation with the parts in the positions occupied when the circuit is closed. Fig. 3 is a plan of the receptacle and the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. e is an elevation ofthe mechanism looking at the side opposite from that shown in Fig. 2, with the pole-,piece omitted; and Fig. 5 shows detailed perspective views of parts of the mechanism.

The shell l may be spun of brass or similar sheet metal in two parts and screwed together. The receptacle 2,containin g the mechanism,is preferably formed of porcelain. The supporting-plate 8 has perforated feet 4, by means of which it is fastenedin position in the receptacle, and it has a perforated hub 5, projecting from one side. An arbor entends through the hub,and ixed to the arbor on one side of the supporting-plate is a plate 7. This plate has a wedge S, on each side of the base of which is a socket 9, and it has a lug 10, projecting from one edge over the edge of the supporting-plate. Loose on the arbor 6 at the end ot the hub is a plate 1l, to which the insulated pole-piece 12 is fastened. Projecting from the pole-plate toward the wedgeplate is a lug 13. The pole-plate lug 13 is arranged to extend just inside of the wedgeplate lug 10. A spring let is Wound about the supporting-plate hub, so as to have an end projecting each side of the two overlapping lugs. Two shoulders 15 are made on the outer end of the supporting plate to form steps for determining the movement of the lugs. The push-bar 16 is movable between the legs of the supporting-plate and has a push-button 17. A spring 18 is arranged on the bar so as to normally press the button outwardly. Jointed to the push-bar, so as to extend inwardly from the end toward the axis of the wedge-plate, is a finger 19. The end of this linger is preferably provided with a roll 20, and it is heldin alinement with the bar by a spring 21. A block 22 is attached to the push-bar on the other side of the snp- .port from the spring-finger. This 'block assists in holding the push-bar in position and guiding it inits movement in and out. For a portion of its movement with the push-bar the block'22 extends into the path of alug 28, that projects from the pole-plate. lWhen the button is pushed in bythe thumb, the roll on the end of the inger attached to the push-bar engages one side of the wedge and is guided into the socket at the base of the wedge and one side of the arbor of the wedge-plate, the finger yielding to allow this. The continued inward movement of the push-button then through the bar, iinger, and roll oscillates the wedge-plate, so that its lug pressing against one end of the spring puts the spring under tension. The other end of the spring pressing against the pole-plate lng tends to throw the poles; but the pole-plate 11 cannot move nntil the push-bar has been pushed inwardly so far that the block 22, which it carries, is moved out ot' the path of the stop-lug 23 on the pole-plate. lVhen the stop-block has been carried out of the path of the'pole-plate lug, the pole-plate is free to move. By this time the spring has been made so tense that it throws the pole-plate and poles violently. When the thumb is removed, the spring 18 pushes out the button. As the bar moves outwardly the linger alines itself and remains in position to engage the other side of the wedge the next time the button is pushed in.

In the drawings a switch with a single pole is illustrated. Of course double poles can be attached to the pole-plate and thrown in the manner described without changing the mech- IOO anism. Any form of stationary contacts that is desired may be employed for the terminals of the circuits.

By means of this simple construction one push inwardly on the button oscillates the poles to one position, and the next push on the button, which has been returned by its spring, oscillates the poles in the opposite direction for opening and closing the circuit.

The mechanism is compact and durable and the parts are simple to manufacture and assemble. v

I claim as my invention- 1. A snap-switch havinga support, a poleplate loosely mounted on the support,a Wedgeplate loosely mounted on the support, a spring held by the support and having both ends engaging a part of the pole-plate and a part of the Wedge-plate, a push-bar, and a yielding finger on the push-bar adapted to engage and move the wedge-plate, substantially as specilied.

2. A snap-switch having a support, a poleplate loosely mounted on the support,a Wedgeplate loosely mounted on the support, a spring held by the support and having both ends engaging a part of the pole-plate and a part of the Wedge-plate, a push-bar, a linger loosely connected with the pushfbar and adapted to engage and move the Wedge-plate, a spring for thrusting the push-baroutwardly, a spring for normally holding the iinger in alinement with the push-bar, and a block carried by the push-bar and adapted to hold the pole-plate from movement until the wedge-plate has been moved sufficientlyY to make the spring tense, substantially as specified.

3. A push-button switch having a support, a pole-plate loosely mounted on the support, a Wedge-plate loosely mounted on the support, a spring held by the support and having its ends engaging opposite sides of lugs projecting from the pole-plate and from the wedge-plate, a push-bar, a finger projecting from the push-bar and adapted to engage and move the wedge-plate, a block mounted on the push-bar and a lug projecting from the pole-plate and adapted to engage with lthe block during a part of its movement, substantially as specified.

4.. A push-button switch having a receptacle, a support secured in the receptacle, a poleplate loosely mounted on'the support, a Wedgeplate loosely mounted on the support, aspring held by the support and having its ends engaging opposite sides of lugs projecting from the pole-plate and -from the Wedge-plate, a push-bar movable toward and from the axis of the pole-plate and wedge-plate, a yielding linger projecting from the push-bar toward the axis of the pole-plate and the wedge-plate and adapted to engage and move the Wedgeplate, a spring for normally holding the nger in alinement with the push-bar, a block mounted on the push-bar, a lug projecting from the pole-plate and adapted to engage With the block during a part of its movement and a cover for the receptacle, substantially as specified.

WILLIAM C. TREGQNING. Witnesses:

H. R. WILLIAMS, V. R. HoLcoMB. 

